I need a new trowel.

[Jeannine]

  and I want a good one.. any ideas.

I have found over the years that buying cheapie garden tools doesn'y pay for me and somehow I didn't pack my good hand trowel so need to replace it. Probaby the last one  I shall buy.

Don't mind it being shipped. I haven't found anything here that I like yet.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[goodlife]

Have you got a photo by any change of your old one..so we can see what sort you are after..

[Jeannine]

No, but it had a wood handle and was not wide . I can't have rubber as I am allergic to latex.XX Jeannine

[nilly71]

I have a Draper one, it has an Ash handle and stainless steel blade. The handle is not skinny so easy to hold.
I think this si the one http://www.charliesdirect.co.uk/products/draper-expert-stainless-steel-heavy-duty-hand-trowel-with-fsc-ash-handle

Neil

[goodlife]

Yes mine is similar ..and they can take some 'hammer'..

[Baccy Man]

I tend to find the narrower transplanting trowel more useful than the standard one.
http://www.charliesdirect.co.uk/products/draper-expert-stainless-steel-heavy-duty-transplanting-trowel-with-fsc-ash-handle

Coincidentally there are 3 branches of Charlies stores locally to me if you want one of the trowels they stock but have problems finding somewhere that will ship it internationally then I can pick one up & post it on to you.

[tonybloke]

get one of these http://www.implementations.co.uk/shop/mira_page.htm
best trowel I've ever owned or used!! (and the slugs don't like where it's been used, due to copper in the bronze)   ;)

[grannyjanny]

Tony that looks like a C D type trowel, beautiful.

[Duke Ellington]

Tony.........

Truly an implement of beauty!! :P I have trowel envy now!!

Duke

[redimp]

That is a thing of beauty tony - a thing only a proper gardener can say about  a trowel.  Mine is a Spear & Jackson stainless steel trowel with an ash or beech handle.
This one:

Does me fine - trouble is I keep leaving it at home.  Think I need two.

They also do this:

[susan1]

 I prefer the aluminium ones, have got a couple of them , easier to wash as I hate the feel of wet wood

[Jeannine]

Thank you for the help.

Baccyman, that is very kind of you, I might take you up on that if I go with that one.. is it me getting used to US prices or is that very cheap for a good trowel?

Tony, you really have me going aahh... it truly is beautiful, I am very very tempted but am going to hold off for a bit longer..do you really use one of them, I would be afraid to get it dirty.

I think my other one might have beena Spear and Jackson as all the other tools we have are.

I asked for help buying hoes a few years ago and on Tim's suggestion  I bought a couple of Wolf push pull hoes and was thrilled with them  so I looked online there first but I don't like the sound of a trowel with a snap handle

Oh..that copper one is calling me..and no VAT to overseas.. but apart from looking beautiful is the metal  a bit gimmicky.. really confused now. Is the handle untreated, I sometimes feel they are abrasive if not?

XX Jeannine

[Baccy Man]

Most tools Charlies sell are cheap the company is run by an ex market trader who still picks up most of his stock at auction & they go for a fast turnover with a small profit margin rather than having stock sat on shelves for months. The website only shows a small percentage of what they actually stock, they usually have loads of Spear & Jackson & Bulldog tools as well as the cheap nasty Amtech & B&Q gardening tools. On Wednesday I picked up a new Bulldog dibber in there for £1.99 (about £5.50 cheaper than it should be) & a few weeks ago I picked up a new Draper Expert SDS drill for £55 (RRP £150).

[tonybloke]

here's  my trowel,
[attachment=1][attachment=2]

used for all sorts of jobs, not just planting. the blade is very tough (bronze) and slices through even the hardest soils, easily removing deep-rooted dandelions and docks, etc.
the handle is not varnished, but not at all abrasive (unlike me, sometimes ;) )
I would recommend one of these to any gardener.

[Duke Ellington]

Now youre just showing off Tony  ;D :P ::)

[powerspade]

I bought mt trowel 55 yrs ago in Bargoed Woolies and I still use it
Cost 12p in todays money
I bought a new stainless steel one in Merthyr. Spear & Jackson that bent after 3 weeks

[cambourne7]

Tony I think that has to go on my Christmas list ;)

[grannyjanny]

Jeannine Charles Dodworth (no dig books) recommends copper tools. If I were a bit younger I would invest in the lot ;).

[Jeannine]

I am beginning to sway !! XX Jeannine

[grannyjanny]

Sorry that should have read Charles Dowding. Sorry Charles.